League: Sonny Bill moved from prime position as Warriors loom

Sonny Bill Williams will play at centre for the Bulldogs. Adam Pretty / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Bulldogs rugby league coach Steve Folkes admits Sonny Bill Williams won't be in his prime position against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday as the Kiwis star looks to bounce back from a difficult week.

Williams has been named at centre for the round 18 National Rugby League (NRL) match at Telstra Stadium in Sydney after some dominant recent performances at lock, attacking the line and producing miracle offloads.

With Williams regaining peak form after his horror run of injuries in 2005, the Bulldogs are fourth on the NRL ladder and rated 4-1 second favourites to repeat their 2004 premiership win.

But the suspension of fellow Kiwi, centre Matt Utai, for a high tackle in last weekend's 32-10 win over Wests Tigers meant Folkes was left with little option with his star player.

"Having Sonny Bill in the back row is where he's best suited... but with Matt Utai out, we don't have too many others we can play at centre," Folkes said.

"He's certainly a special talent but we've had everyone firing around him too which is important."

Williams was due to appear in court on Tuesday for a series of speeding allegations going back to 2004, but the case was adjourned until September because of the death of his grandmother this week.

The Bulldogs welcome back three players from Wednesday's State of Origin decider, tough forwards Willie Mason, Mark O'Meley and Nate Myles who all came through the match unscathed.

But Folkes said three others were only 50/50 chances with niggly injuries -- halfback Brett Sherwin, prolific pointscoring wing Hazem EL Masri and interchange player Chris Armit. They would all be assessed in the next two days.

While the Warriors are shooting for five wins in a row, the Bulldogs are looking to break an unwelcome pattern despite their lofty perch on the points table.

In their last seven matches they have won four and lost three, and haven't strung together back to back wins since round 11, nearly two months ago.

"The last three weeks we've performed well, if you take out the last 15 seconds against Melbourne (when they lost to a late try) then we've won three in a row," Folkes said.

"We need to start stringing some wins together to keep pace with the frontrunners. We're certainly playing well enough to do that."

The Bulldogs have won the last four encounters between the two sides, all played in New Zealand, including a 30-16 win in Auckland in round eight.

Folkes said the key was keeping a lid on the fast-starting Warriors who have taken control early in all their recent wins.

"The last two weeks the opposition hasn't scored in the first half and that's a record we want to hold on to... it just depends on what kind of mood the Warriors are in."

Kiwis prop Roy Asotasi plays his first match since announcing his reported A$2.2 million ($2.73 million) shift from the Bulldogs to Souths, and will be fired up to farewell his first NRL club with a 2006 premiership.

"Roy's very professional and it's better now he's not in the middle of negotiations. I know he'll give his best on Sunday," Folkes said.

- NZPA